Happy Krampusnacht!

December 05, 2013

A fixture of holiday folklore in Europe, Krampus, the demonic companion of St. Nicholas tasked with punishing naughty children rather than bestowing gifts upon them, has seen his popularity skyrocket in the United States in recent years. Taking a page from the traditional Krampusnacht celebrations which occur on December 5th in Alpine European countries, annual 'Krampus Runs,' featuring participants donning gruesome costumes in tribute to the 'anti-Santa,' have sprung up in cities across America.

However, denizens of his original homeland have begun to worry that the character of Krampus may be becoming too commercialized and the original meaning behind the tradition lost as businesses attempt to profit from its popularity. More on the debate over the commercialization of Krampus can be found at the Christian Science Monitor and you can check out a gallery of Krampusnacht celebrations at The Atlantic.